Although Long Covid is a new condition, Post Viral Fatigue isn’t, and is something that the specialist therapists at North West Fatigue Clinic have been treating for many years. Post Viral Fatigue is when you have ongoing fatigue, together with other symptoms, following a viral infection such as Covid-19. Using their ASSIST programme our therapists firstly begin by assessing your specific needs and determine how much activity you are able to tolerate without an increase in your symptoms, from here they will help you to apply taught techniques so that you are able to very gradually increase your activity levels and achieve your goals.
Fatigue is a common symptom in those presenting with symptomatic Covid – 19. In fact one study showed that around 52% reported severe persistent fatigue at 10 weeks after initial Covid – 19 symptoms, and 30% of people were unable to return to work because of their ongoing fatigue. No correlation was seen between the severity of the initial symptoms and the resulting fatigue.
The longer term consequences of Covid – 19 are currently unknown, however it has been raised that it can potentially trigger Post Viral Fatigue. The treatment for this being very similar to that of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS/ME, using a variety of interventions to firstly manage the fatigue and then to gradually build the person’s tolerance to activity.
Fatigue is needed when you have a virus so that you will rest and fight the infection to promote recovery. However for some the fatigue can continue once the initial symptoms of the virus have subsided. This fatigue can become chronic and is not improved through sleep.
There dosen't appear to be a correlation between the severity of the initial acute symptoms of Covid-19 and the ongoing symptoms. Both those that were initially admitted to hospital, and those that managed their symptoms at home, are reporting long term symptoms including fatigue.
Symptoms of fatigue are varied, can fluctuate, and are unique to each person. Fatigue lessens the physical, cognitive and emotional energies of a person and is significantly different to 'normal tiredness'. See below for some of the common long term symptoms that are being reported.
As the symptoms and their severity is different for everyone, so is the length of their recovery. Early rehabilitation delivered by a health professional can be beneficial in altering the downward trajectory at an earlier stage, avoiding more severe symptoms, and optimising improvement.
